🔗 Share this article

Researchers monitoring wild polar bears in Canada's northern regions observed something remarkably uncommon this autumn: a mother bear adopting a cub that was not biologically her own.

The five-year-old maternal bear and her nearly year-old cubs were spotted and filmed during the annual polar bear migration along the Hudson Bay's western shore near Churchill, Manitoba, an locale known for its polar bear population.

"This is uncommon," stated a researcher with a polar bear conservation group. "The reasons are unclear why it happens...but we know it is a rare event at all."

This represents only the thirteenth documented instance of adoption out of 4,600 bears researched for almost fifty years in that region.

The mother bear was first captured as she emerged from her birthing den this springtime. At the time, she had one cub, which scientists marked for study.

In the fall, she was seen again, but this time with two cubs - the initially tagged cub and a second without a tag. Scientists aren't sure what became of the new cub's biological mother, but they are trying to locate her using DNA analysis.

"The bears need every advantage they can get these days with climate change," noted a wildlife biologist. "When mother bears have the chance to take in an additional youngster and care for it and successfully wean it, it's a positive development for the bears."

Polar bears in the natural world only have a 50% chance of living into adulthood, but having a mother caring for them boosts their chances.

The young bears are reported as in good condition, according to experts, and they will likely remain with their adoptive mother until they are about 30 months of age.

Following this, the family is anticipated to venture out to the frozen ocean, where the cubs will be taught from their mother bear how to hunt seals and live on their own.

"It's just nice to know that the animals are caring for each other," concluded the researcher.